King Charles is scheduled to open a parliament in Ottawa on May 27th. This was the first time that the British monarch had fulfilled his duties since the late Queen Elizabeth did so 68 years ago.
Trump annexes Canada as the 51st state
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Donald Trump discussed Canada with the 51st state during their visit to the White House.
LONDON (Reuters) – Charles III flew to Canada on May 26, making a very iconic visit showing support for the country that he recognizes as sovereignty but is coveted as the 51st state by US President Donald Trump.
Following an invitation from Prime Minister Mark Carney, Charles will open Congress in Ottawa on May 27th. This was the first time since the late Queen Elizabeth, whose mother, the British monarch, did so 68 years ago.
The 76-year-old King is still undergoing cancer treatments that limit his workload, so the two-day trip shows his commitment to Canada, one of the 15 countries he is a monarch.
Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire for annexation into Canada, a proposition that was heavily rejected by Carney, who won last month’s election.
“The Prime Minister has made it clear that Canada is not currently for sale, but has not been for sale until now,” Canada’s envoy to the UK, Ralph Goodale told reporters last week during a visit to Canada’s High Commissioner.
“The King as Head of State strengthens the power and strength of his message.”
Charles has created subtle signals of support for Canada in recent months, wearing a Canadian medal, calling himself the king of Canada, describing the flag as “a symbol that never elicits a sense of pride and admiration.”
However, he faces a tricky balancing act as British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer works to protect Trump over Ukraine’s trade relations.
When Starme visited the White House in February, he gave a fantastic show of invitations from Charles.
Carney, former governor of the Bank of England, said it bothered Canadians.
“An important opportunity”
Charles’ trip he makes with his wife, Queen Camilla, will be his first visit to the former British colony since becoming king in September 2022.
On May 26, according to Buckingham Palace, the royal couple visits a large park in Ottawa and meets vendors and artists. The king then takes part in a ritual pack drop and begins a street hockey demonstration before planting the trees in another part of the city.
This is the third time a sovereign has delivered a “speech from the throne” in the Canadian Senate.
Charles and Camila travel to the Senate in a ritual carriage with a 28-horse escort and give a 25-minute speech written by the Kearney government.
Canadian Identity and Culture Minister Stephen Gilby said it would “be an important opportunity – bringing Canadians together by celebrating our rich history, our democracy, and institutions that serve us all.”
